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[Pulaski]

[ANCHOR=mike]

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Good evening everybody and welcome to Friday Football Extra on this the final day of the month of November in the year 20 - 01.
This is our annual state semi-final show and before tonight is over we'll preview tomorrow's final four games in divisions one, two and three.
We'll also have the statewide schedule of games for those of you traveling, perhaps back to your alma mater.
And Robin Reed will drop by to offer up your game day forecasts.
[GRAPHIC=TECH-MIAMI]
Oh yes, did I mention that we are also giving away 8 tickets to tomorrow's Tech-Miami game. Four lucky winners will each receive a pair. I'll tell you when to call in later in the show.
[GRAPHIC=MARION/PULASKI]
But right now we need to take advantage of a rare final four treat. A game on a Friday.
Pulaski and Marion decided to play their division four semi-final tonight instead of tomorrow to avoid a direct conflict with the Tech-Miami game.
Unfortunately for Marion fans there was nothing their Hurricanes could do to avoid the Cougars' potent offense.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=51-Pulaski Co./Division Four Semi-Final; ]
[SUPER=50-Joel Hicks/Pulaski County Head Coach; ]
[SUPER=52-Marion/20/Pulaski Co./31;]
[SUPER=50-Steve Wright/Marion Head Coach; ]
[SUPER=50-Josh Calfee/158 Yards Rushing and 2 TDs; ]
[RUNS=3:00]
[OUT Q=...going to states]
(------------)
(( Another huge crowd on hand at Kenneth Dobson Stadium created a festive atmosphere as the Cougars went after spot in the state finals in their first year as Group Two A members.
One their first possession, the Cougars' Josh Calfee hits a career milestone as he tops the 5000 yard mark in rushing for his career.
Calfee's running set up the first touchdown as Jeremy Porter breaks free up the middle and goes 36 yards to the house.
The score puts Pulaski in front 7-to-nothing.
On Pulaski's next possession, Porter continues his huge first half with a bruising 25 yard run right up the middle of the Canes defense. That moves the ball to the Marion 20 yard line.
Two plays later, Calfee hammers it in on the two yard run. It's now 14-to-nothing after one quarter.
Early in the second quarter Porter will add to the Cougars' advantage as he overpowers the Marion defense on a five yard run. Porter had 173 yards rushing in the first half. The Cougars had run just 18 plays from scrimmage and had a 21 point lead.
That's when Marion finally decided to come alive. Fullback Marshall Doss gets the ball on a trap play inside and he breaks on off 50 yards down the sideline moving the ball all the way down to the Pulaski County 16 yard line.
Doss would finish the drive with a three yard TD run. Marion make it a 21-to-6 game - and at this point the Hurricane warning flags were out on the Marion sideline.
But Pulaski ignored them. Late in the first half Alan Wheeling throws his first pass of the game and it's a strike over the middle to Matt Roan. The 41 yard pitch and catch moves the ball to the Marion 13.
Two plays later, Calfee would get an easy 10 yard TD run up the middle and the Cougars hit the halftime break with a 31-to-6 lead.
((JOEL HICKS:))
The Cougars did put the ball on the ground and get a little sloppy fumbling twice and allowing Marion to close the gap with a 16 play 77 yard drive in the third.
Doss finishes it off by going right up the middle and stretching out for a 10 yard TD. The Hurricanes cut the Pulaski lead to 31-to-12 after three.
Marion scored again in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Brandon Creasy leasp over the top from the one and now it's a 31-to-20 game after the two point conversion.
But Pulaski was able to put this one on ice thanks to Calfee's running. Josh finishes with 158 yards on the ground and the Cougars advance to the state finals with the 31-to-20 win.))

[Wheeling]

Our player of the week is the complete package. He is tough, fast, he's a leader, he plays on offense and defense.
[graphic=alan wheeling]

Pulaski County quarterback Alan Wheeling keeps the Cougars rolling and never was he more important than his team's 40-13 win over Salem in the Region III Division four championship. Steve Mason has his story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=51-Pulaski Co./November 23rd; :00]
[SUPER=50-Alan Wheeling/FFE Player of the Week; :14]
[SUPER=50-Joel Hicks/Pulaski Co. Head Coach; :43]
[SUPER=51-Roanoke Co./November 2nd; :56]
[SUPER=59-Steve Mason; 1:33]
[RUNS=2:10]
[OUT Q=.....Friday Football Extra"]
(-----------------)
((We could talk about the game, one of the most complete games by a player in recent memory on Friday Football Extra. The stats don't lie. He completed all three of his passes for 96 yards, one of which went for a 50 yard touchdown.
((:))
He also intercepted three passes from his defensive back spot, one of which he took 58 yards for a touchdown. But you know you are good when legendary Salem coach Willis White tells your legendary coach that Wheeling is the key to winning.
((:))
Wheeling missed most of the Pulaski Northside game with a severely sprained ankle and guess what, the Cougars suffered their only loss of the season. His toughness also makes him the complete package as the senior played the Byrd and Salem game in pain.
((:))
((STEVE MASON:))
((:))

Alan Wheeling continues the long line of Pulaski County players of the week. Steve Mason FFE.)) [Shayne]

Perhaps no one in the state of New York will be thinking about the Cougars more tonight than than former Pulaski County kicker Shayne Graham.
Shayne left Roanoke earlier this week after signing with the Buffalo Bills.
He's one guy who has never forgotten the coaches and teachers who helped shape his future back in high school.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=50-Shayne Graham/Buffalo Bills Kicker; :00]
[SUPER=53-1995; :21]
[SUPER=53-1992 Division Six Semi-Finals; :57]
[SUPER=51-Morgantown, WV/1999; 1:08]
[RUNS=1:46]
[OUT Q=...IN THE NFL."]
((SHAYNE GRAHAM:))
(( Shayne's semi-final field goal at the buzzer in the 1992 in the state semi-finals propelled the Cougars to winning that season's division six state title.
The only other kick that rivaled that one was the one he beat with West Virginia with in 1999 during the Hokies national title run.
Yet as you heard - he never even played football until he got to high school.))
((SHAYNE GRAHAM:))
(-------------)
[TALENT=MIKE]
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Shayne will make his NFL debut in the regular season this Sunday night as the Bills take on the San Francisco 49ers.[B

oard-Bump]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
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We will shift our attention the Division Three and Division Two ranks in just a moment.
Some thoughts on the Liberty at Graham and the Floyd at Gate City games are coming up.
But first here's a look at tomorrow's state wide State Semi-Final schedule of games.
[GO TO SCOREBOARD]

[Liberty]

We back and ready to begin our previews of tomorrow's other state semi-finals involving teams from our side of the state.
[GRAPHIC=LIBERTY/GRAHAM]
The Division three semi-final in Bluefield tomorrow will pit Glynn Carlock and his once beaten Graham G-men against the Liberty Minutemen.
This is Liberty's first ever trip to the final four in football, but you'd never know it by the team's confidence level.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I THINK WE'RE...]
[SUPER=50-Scott Abell/Liberty Head Coach; :10]
[SUPER=51-Gretna/Region Three Title Game; :21]
[SUPER=53-Graham In White; :45]
[SUPER=50-Chris Burnette/Liberty Senior Lineman; :55]
[RUNS=1:53]
[OUT Q=...going down to Bluefield."]
((SCOTT ABELL:))
(( Beating a previously undefeated team like Liberty did last week will you full of that confidence. The Minutemen dominated Gretna to capture the Region three, division three crown 30-to-6.
The Minutemen have 21 seniors, plenty of size and enough speed to matchup with the G-Men.
((SCOTT ABELL:))
((CHRIS BURNETTE:))
Burnette had to miss last week's game with Gretna, but his injured right ankle has healed and he should be close to 100 percent tomorrow.
The Minutemen will have plenty of incentive to beat the G-Men.
Not only will the rewards be great, but the travel distance will be short.
The state final next week will be played on the carpet at Liberty University.))
((CHRIS BURNETTE:))
((SCOTT ABELL:))

[Floyd]

Floyd County is carrying the banner for Friday Football Extra in the Division Two ranks.
The Buffaloes have turned into this year's postseason Road Warriors.
And after winning the Region C, division two title last week - they have been rewarded with a state semi-final showdown against the newest member of the Lonesome Pine District - tradition rich Gate City.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=50-Winfred Beale/Floyd Co. Head Coach; :00]
[SUPER=51-Big Stone Gap/Last Saturday; :18]
[SUPER=50-Derek Mannon/Floyd Co. Senior Fullback; :48 quick]
[SUPER=50-Isaac Spence/Floyd Co. Senior Quarterback; :51]
[SUPER=50-Nick Colobro/Gate City Head Coach; :57]
[SUPER=51-Chilhowie/Last Friday; 1:06]
[RUNS=2:20]
[OUT Q=...BE ALL RIGHT."]
(-------------)
((WINFRED BEALE:))
(( Gate City's football tradition at Legion Field goes more than 30 years. The Blue Devils have made five appearances in the state championship game since 1970 - winning three of those titles. All of the championships were as a Group Two A member.
This season the Blue Devils dropped in classification to Group A. And last week Gate City disposed of former single A king Powell Valley to claim the Region D title.
((DEREK MANNON:))
((ISAAC SPENCE:))
((NICK COLOBRO:))
Hitting the road for Saturday Afternoon's game will be nothing new for the Buffaloes. They closed out the regular season with a must win at at Radford, then opened the playoffs with a resounding win over Giles in Pearisburg. Last week the Windred Beale road show rolled into Chilhowie and took home the region c title.
((WIN BEALE:))
Floyd's key to success all season long has been the team's amazing offensive balance. But against Gate City it will come down to who wants it more up front.))
((DEREK MANNON:))

[Tease#1]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
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Coming up we'll head to Bath County where tomorrow afternoon the high flying, high scoring Chargers host Appalachia in the division one semi-finals.
A preview of that game and much more is straight ahead right here on Friday Football Extra.
[graphic=TECH/MIAMI]
But as we told you at the top of the show tonight - we have tickets for tomorrow's Tech-Miami game and we're giving them away.
(-------------)
[GO TO PINNACLE]
Right now it's time to call 1-800-777-WDBJ.
If you get through - punch 8 on your touchtone phone to win.
We'll take the first four callers to get through. Each wins a pair of tickets to tomrorow's game.
Call now to win.
(-------------)
[go to break]

[Bath]

Welcome back to Friday Football Extra. We now, turn our attention to the Division 1 Semi-Finals matching Bath County and Appalachia.
The Appalachia Bulldogs have won 5 of the last 11 Division 1 State Championships.
But Bath County has been pointing toward a return to the State Championship game for the better part of a year."
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=...That's because...]
[SUPER=51-Lynchburg/2000 Division One Championship; :00]
[SUPER=50-Chris Jones/Bath Co. Head Coach; :12]
[SUPER=50-Jacob Phillips/Bath Co. Quarterback; :24]
[SUPER=51-St. Paul/Region D Title Game; :34]
[RUNS=1:55]
[OUT Q=...leadership is there."]
((That's because the Chargers remember the bitter, empty feeling after last season's loss to Riverheads in the Division 1 Title Game at Liberty University.
((CHRIS JONES:))
((JACOB PHILLIPS:))
Advancing to the state finals means beating an Appalachia team that last week hammered St. Paul in the Region D Championship Game. The Bulldogs, like Bath, feature an experienced and talented quarterback. Josh Mabe has led the Bulldogs to a 9-and-3 record.
Jones says his Chargers are playing their best football of the season the numbers certainly back up his statement. Bath County is averaging 43 points a game this season, but over the last five weeks, the Chargers have been averaging 60 points a game.))

[Phillips]

Our player of the week is a two year starter at quarterback for Bath County High School...and keep in mind, he's only a sophomore.
[Player Graphic]
But Jacob Phillips brand of quiet leadership is one reason the Chargers are 11-and-1 and playing in the Division 1 Semi-Finals.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Jacob Phillips...]
[SUPER=51-Lynchburg/2000 Division One Championship; :00]
[SUPER=50-Chris Jones/Bath Co. Head Coach; :15]
[SUPER=51-Hot Springs/Region C Title Game; :26]
[SUPER=50-Jacob Phillips/FFE Player of the Week; :48]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUT Q=...at one o'clock."]
(-------------)
((Jacob Phillips was thrown to the fire as a freshman...leading the Chargers to a 12-and-2 record and the state championship game. But getting him to speak up was a challenge last season.
((CHRIS JONES:))
Phillips has played well enough to record a 23-and-3 record as a starting quarterback is. And, in putting up 11 wins this season, he's become more of a vocal leader.
((JACOB PHILLIPS:))
In the Chargers region C title rout over Galax Phillips completed 8 of 9 passes for 206 yards and ran 8 times for 86 yards. And, while he didn't account for a single point in the 57-to-nothing win...the 57 point out-burst would not have been possible without him.
Phillips says his favorite college quarterback is, ironically enough, Miami quarterback Kent Dorsey who leads his Hurr

icanes into tomorrow afternoon's one o'clock game at Virginia Tech.))[Tease#2]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
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Now in just a moment Robin Reed will join us with your game day forecasts for tomorrow. That and more is still to come on Friday Football Extra.
[GO TO BREAK]

[Weather]

Now that we know where everyone is playing it's time to check in with my good friend meteorologist Robin Reed.
He has taken care of us every Friday night and I bet your game day forecasts for all three of tomorrow's semi-finals also will be on the money.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=59-Robin Reed; :00]
[RUNS=:45]
[OUT Q=...ENJOY."]
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[ROBIN THROWS TO MIKE]

[Keeling]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
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Thanks Robin. We now take a moment to pay our respects to a former Friday Football Extra standout.
Over the past 18 years this show has lost several outstanding players and coaches to illness, tragedy and accidents.
Bath County's Carl Williams, Fleming running back Ronny Grogan, Radford tailback Dana Palmer, and Parry McCluer quarterback Chris Wheeler all met their maker way too soon.
Last Wednesday, the night before Thanksgiving, former Northside running back Cory Keeling was killed a car wreck.
His head coach Jim Hickam was one of Cory's pallbearers
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=53-Last Season; :00]
[SUPER=50-Jim Hickam/Northside Head Coach; :15]
[SUPER=51-Roanoke/Last November; :28]
[RUNS=1:08]
[OUT Q=...THAT HE WAS LOVED."]
((JIM HICKAM:))
((Those of us at Friday Football Extra not only got to see Cory excel on the field, but lead by example off of it. He was a regular at the valley wide Fellowship of Christian Athlete meetings.))
((JIM HICKAM:))
(-------------)
[talent=mike]
[graphic=ffe]
And that he was.
Friday Football Extra continues with our Tech-Miami ticket winner in just a moment.

[go to break][Tease#3]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
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When we come back we'll tell you who won the Tech-Miami tickets as Friday Football Extra continues right here on WDBJ-7.
[GO TO BREAK]

[Tech]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
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[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=TECH/MIAMI]
Folks we thank you for joining Friday Football Extra tonight for our state semi-final special. We'll be right back here next week at this time to get you set for State Championship Saturday.
But before we leave you tonight we need to tell you who won the tickets for tomorrow's big Miami-Tech game at Lane Stadium.
(------------)
[GO TO BOARD OF WINNERS.]
Congratulations to Michelle Hurley of Roanoke, David Richardson of Marion, Mark Lovern of Narrows, and Amy Debord of Marion. Each of you has won a pair of tickets to tomrorow's sold our Hokies and Hurricanes Big East battle.
(------------)
Take care folks and a have safe weekend.
[GO TO CLOSE]